South Africa keen on transformation the Malaysian way

PUTRAJAYA: MALAYSIA'S transformation programme has caught the South African government's interest to learn more about its execution and implementation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said  the republic had invited Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala to give a detailed presentation on the matter to the South African government.

"(South African) President (Jacob) Zuma is keen to look at how we carry out our transformation programme, with emphasis on (its) execution and implementation.

"The South African government has asked Idris Jala to visit South Africa and make a complete presentation on the matter," Najib said in a joint press conference after a 90-minute meeting with Zuma and his delegates here yesterday.

He said Zuma had also raised issues on affirmative actions in creating jobs as well as fighting crime and corruption.

"These are issues which are quite familiar to us and we stand ready to contribute in terms of Malaysia's experience on whatever that we have carried out so far."

Zuma zooms in on Malaysia

One for the album: Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor posing for a photograph with Zuma and his wife Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma after the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian businessmen’s first investing spree to South Africa was some 20 years ago. Let’s do it again, said South African Presi­dent Jacob Zuma.

There were still huge opportunities, particularly in energy producing, transportation and manufacturing sectors, he said.

“Malaysia is a generous, trusted friend and an ally (to South Africa). We encourage more Malaysian businessmen to continue investing,” he said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

In 1994, Malaysia made the right decision when it became among the first countries to invest in a newly created democratic South Africa, said Zuma.

“While the rest of the world adopted a wait-and-see attitude, Malaysia led the way,” he said.

“Today, Malaysians are the largest investors in South Africa from South-East Asia.”